One of the best things about growing up in Southern California were the visits my family took to Disneyland park each year. The park was my Never Land, full of wonder and excitement that fueled my young imagination. To this day one of my favorite memories is of Captain Hook’s Pirate Ship and Skull Rock in Fantasyland.

Opening August 29, 1955, as the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship and Restaurant (later named Captain Hook’s Galley), the ship was home to a small quick-service location serving all things tuna. I remember eating my tuna burger as quickly as I could so I would have time to explore the area. I imagined I WAS Peter Pan as I navigated the waterfalls of Skull Rock, dueled with my sibling pirates on the deck and wondered how something so impossibly large as a ship could actually fly (pixie dust, of course!). Only at Disneyland could a restaurant inspire such imagination!

Closed to make way for the new Fantasyland, Captain Hook’s Pirate Ship and Skull Rock are no longer part of Disneyland park. However, they are more than just a memory as Imagineers created a fantastic version in Disneyland Paris.

EXTRA CREDIT if you can name the two other Disneyland park restaurants that opened in August 1955.

Bobby from CA on August 29th, 2011 at 3:41 pm

Casa de Fritos in Frontierland. And I’m between either Carnation Ice Cream Parlor on Main Street or the Aunt Jemima Pancake House also in Frontierland.

For a current first year college student straight out of high school this past 2011 school year, I scare people with my knowledge of Disney.

Jim Ames on August 29th, 2011 at 8:19 pm

Bobby – you are correct! The two other restaurants that opened in August 1955 were Casa de Fritos and the Aunt Jemima Pancake House.

2

William on August 29th, 2011 at 5:56 pm

Growing up I always referred to it as the “Tuna Boat”. I never knew the real name.

3

Loren from CA on August 29th, 2011 at 6:53 pm

I absolutely loved Captain Hook’s ship! I remember my dad dropping me off here to play while he went to buy more tickets. I also loved to pretend I was Peter Pan and sailing the ship. I really wish they would bring it back to Disneyland. I was recently at Disneyland Paris and the sight of the ship and Skull Rock there just made me so nostalgic for this wonderful place!

4

Fred from CA on August 29th, 2011 at 7:22 pm

I always love seeing color photos of old Disneyland attractions.

5

Pamela on August 29th, 2011 at 10:58 pm

My fondest memory would be Casa de Fritos. We couldn’t wait to take our nickel and put it in the slot to have Frito the Kid call out to Klondike to send down our “golden chips of corn”.

6

Dean on August 30th, 2011 at 12:10 am

Didn’t they salvage some parts of the ship for the Peter Pan Dark Ride? I’ve never been able to spot them in the ride. I know some are in the bedroom at the beginning, but I am kind of at a loss in this instance.

Fred from CA, I agree. I love to see Color photos of Past attractions too!

7

Stacy from CA on August 30th, 2011 at 1:32 am

I have a picture of me on the ship with Peter Pan sitting above me. I think I was about 5 years old then. I will be 45 in September.

8

Tony from CA on August 30th, 2011 at 4:11 am

I loved going to the chicken of the sea for the tuna salad sandwich because they were sooooo good and the had those olives on them. Then you can eat over at skull rock…

9

Karen on August 30th, 2011 at 5:42 am

#5 – The Chicken of the Sea was my favorite restaurant at Disneyland when I was little. I always looked forward to going there for my tuna lunch!! The photo above shows 2 of my favorite things that no longer exist at Disneyland – the Chicken of the Sea pirate ship restaurant and my beloved “bucket ride”!!

10

Jim on August 30th, 2011 at 12:12 pm

Have a photo of me on my 6th birthday in mid Oct. 1955 with the pirate ship in the background…I forgot how colorful it was, as the photo was B/W…

11

Friend on August 30th, 2011 at 6:36 pm

Being from a “no meat on friday” family back then in the 50’s, Captain Hook’s was a “Great” discovery for us,with it’s Tuna Burgers or Tuna Cheese Burgers if you asked. My mother saved the place mat with the Chicken of the Sea recipe on it so we could make them at home. I remember in 1982 the New Fantasyland Team had picked out a new location for the Pirate Ship and Skull Rock and presented it to the management. Management however decided to remove it from the New Fanatsyland scope. The Team however set sails and removed it to Euro Disneyland where it is being refurbished today. I do wish Disneyland would serve tuna burgers somewhere again. I remember the Pirate face masks you got as a kid with your meal at the ship, and later they gave out at Blue Bayou.

12

Jenny on August 30th, 2011 at 10:37 pm

Gosh that brings back memories. My favorite thing to get at the restaurant was the rum cake!! Boy I miss that. Never have found a better tasting one again.

13

Teresa from CA on September 3rd, 2011 at 7:07 pm

I loved the Chicken of The Sea Pirate Ship and Resteraunt. My family would have lunch their on every visit. Why doesn’t disney bring back those delcious tuna sandwhiches? If I remember correctly I used have the sandwhich, milk and apple. It was a great meal for both adults and children alike.

14

Marie on September 5th, 2011 at 11:43 am

My brother and I used to go to the Chicken of the Sea and we would sit on the barrel seats outside and have a snack of french fries. It was always quiet and a restful spot before we were running off to another ride.

15

Veronica on September 5th, 2011 at 4:29 pm

This used to be the meeting place when we went to Disneyland with the family. My Dad would tell us we could go off on our own but we had to meet for lunch at the Chicken of the Sea ship,and we would play around Skull Rock while we ate.

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